Victory - Laced Up (Oi! The Boat Records - 2013)

Now that we have landed in the Land of the Free, let's stay there a bit. We'll go further west all the way to St. Paul, Minnesota, and we'll talk about one of America's most promising new band, namely Victory. The band, that includes some members from Pist & Broke and 86'ed among other bands, is playing a fast and furious (Paul Walker joke anyone ?) Oi!, but yet really melodic, in a very Templars style with a more grave voice perhaps, a shit load of singalong, brillant rolling bass and perfect simple and ultra efficient solo guitar on top. To me that sounds like the perfect blend, every ingredient to make great songs are there. And Victory won't disappoint you, believe me. Every single track they've done so far is an anthem. 
Let's take a look at their first 7" called Laced Up. Here we have four songs : "Laced Up" (which is all about the skinhead pride) and "American Nightmare" (about the failure of the american dream and the oppression that the working man undergoes, brilliant lyrics by the way) on the A-side, "Glory Days" (a kind of tribute to to the golden age of Oi! and of the scene, wonderful bass all over the song and great singalong part) and "Real Heroes" (a song that deals with the soldiers that have fallen in battle fighting with much bravery). To be honest I can't say which of these four songs is my favorite, they're all just so brilliant. I could probably play that 7" a whole week without being bored.

Here you go with one song of the band. the word you're looking for is "brilliant".

Those four jewels are delivered in a gatefold cover (there's actually two different cover, depending on if you have the first or the second press, the cover above being the one from the second press) with all the lyrics and a long thanklist inside and a band picture on the back. As always with Oi! the Boat, you have a digital download code included.
I guess you can still find that record somewhere on the internet, but it sold pretty fast (the first pressing was sold out 90 minutes after being released... Yep...). Anyway, if you find it, buy it, that's my advice. you really don't want to miss that band. I was already very enthusiastic with all the american new bands (Sydney Ducks, Noi!se or The Broadsiders to name a few), but this record confirmed that something good is going on in America. Clearly one of the best record I bought this year, that's for sure !